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USED INTERNATIONAL WITH REFER TO WI
NEW INTERNATIONAL WITH REFER TO SC
Wednesday - 3/23/11
There
was supposed to be 'a bunch' of trucks leaving for the southeast this week, but
by Wednesday AM we were down to two. Just another reason I don't like these
early AM dispatches, the weather is bad and no one to call. The area we are
heading to will get about 10 inches today which is about what they forecast.
One driver is a no show so we call them, they (claim they) can't get out of
their driveway.
The first leg is a shuttle ride, two hours usually
today it is three hours. We get to the lot and it hasn't been plowed, the
driver isn't sure if he can make it in, I say don't, but he does anyway …
and gets stuck. There are about 60 keys to pick from, in no order and 60 trucks
to pick from, in no order.
The temp is close to 30 but it's damp and
cold when standing around. We get our trucks moving and then have to work on
the shuttle. He sits in the van while we push, I have to keep telling him to
keep it straight, he wants to turn the tires so that he is trying to make two
sets of tracks. Luckily there is no traffic coming and we are able to push him
back on to the road without stopping. Would have been nice to have a tow rope
and used one of the trucks.
From here it's another two hours, usually.
Three today. We do stay on the four lane which adds a few miles but that is the
suggested route, that we seldom take. Traffic is slow, I try to get the speed
up to 50-55 but don't stay there long at a time. Hard to pass, hard to tell
where the lines are, can't often see them. Realized once I was running on the
rumble strip so I backed off, lots of other times I could see the other
car/truck coming into my lane and had to back off.
Our trucks are
ready when we get to the second drop so that is about the only thing that goes
fast. The other guy's truck is not full of fuel, so that takes extra time. We
don't need to run together but in weather like this we decide too … We are
not going to the same place, we'll either part later today or first thing in
the AM.
We left the office at 6AM and we lost one hour for every two
for the first 9/6 hours. Finally at 3 PM we start to see wet highway, by 4 PM
it's mostly dry but still occasional rain and / or flurries.
The
computer routes us VIA Chicago but with the weather and timing we both decide
to by-pass it, that will add about 40 miles but not likely to add any time.
Posted speed alone will trim it to 30 minutes difference or less. We are down
to under a ½ on fuel so stop at the Flying J in South Beloit, I think we
could have made it further but not sure on the miles. We get to the first ( and
only) toll booth and I forgot that the other driver has the E-Z pass … I
was in the lead and thought he had stayed behind me ???
Finally able
to set the cruise and enjoy, It's been hard to guess where we would end up, I'm
finally able to realize it's Bloomington-Normal. I don't know where the cheap
motels are so I decide to shut down almost an hour early in Minonk. I know the
price of the motel and that there is food next door. I don't like being up
against the clock when it's the 14 hour clock.
The other driver has
decided to push on, we would be parting ways a hour past Bloomington anyways.
Haven't talked to him again to know where he ended up. I do know that his
flight was an hour earlier than mine and his drop was an hour from the airport
so that is about two hours more that he needs than I do.
As soon as I
was in this truck I called my drop to find out where they were, about six hours
later they called back so I know where I'm going. The problem is that the
address as listed did not exist, it would be a few blocks past a dead end on a
street in a residential area … (thanks to Mapquest, Google AND Yahoo) But
there is a similar address in a nearby town but that is a repair shop, that
does end up being where it's going.
The motel is the Motel 6 for $37
and my meal is at Woody's at the truckstop. I order the Philly instead of the
French Dip with the salad bar. Sandwich wasn't bad, but two trips to the salad
bar means it really wasn't that good.
No trip reviews on either, I've
stayed at both before.
Thursday - 3/24/11
6 AM yesterday
was early enough, but shutting down early last night means I can go by a little
after 5 AM, I make it 5:30 but that means up at 5 AM again today.
No
issues with the truck, I can feel the rain on my face as I walk to the truck.
And then it's snowing when I start rolling. Nothing major, we are to the south
of it finally.
I ran the mapquest last night to find out my new route,
I'm back on course when I get to Indy. To make it easy for me : I write the
Interstates in big letters on my envelope with the cities where I change. I've
been most of these roads before until I get almost to Charleston.
Love's is my first fuel stop today, I haven't been here since I've gotten the
OK to fill without going inside first. It works. I also see my first DEF pump,
find out isn't not working and I don't like it's location, but they are working
on it. The Love's card codes the company name which helps when getting the
receipts, I'll try to remember to drop a note to Pilot/Flying J, that is the
big issue with them finding my receipt. Sometime later in the day I fuel again
at another Flying J.
No issues, lots of hills and corners but weather
is good
I need to find out where that last 'Rax Roast Beef' was, I get
to an area and it pops into my head but I don't see it. The one time I saw it,
I was in a rental car and it was after close time. 9
(I've found Rax,
there are still 5 locations open, one each in IL, IN, KY, OH and WV.
http://raxroastbeef.com/locations )
Trying to remember the other
sites. I remembered where we (the other driver) ran out of fuel and where a
motel used to be, the Loves I stopped at today is new since then. The freeway
in Indy hasn't changed much, but they are working on it. Remember where we
tried to pickup a used truck, took it back to the customer before we got to the
freeway, got a rental and drove home, it was supposed to have been a round
trip. Once I was south of Cinci things aren't as familiar. I do recognize
Knoxville once I get there.
I had made some notes for the big towns
here I might stop tonight, I end up at the last one on my list … got in
660 miles today. Had I gotten that in yesterday, I'd be in my delivery town
tonight. Asheville, NC is my stop. I have some coupon books and there isn't
much cheap after that.
I first think I'm going to stop at the Rodeway
Inn for $29 but I'm still soured by my last stay at that chain. And I want a
good nights sleep tonight, Early, early AM tomorrow. There is also a Plantation
Inn for the same price.
>>>>>>>> TRIP ADVISOR
- Days Inn, Candle/Asheville, SC
<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"First motel with
a Complimentary Southern Supper, plus complimentary breakfast" 3 of 5 stars
Date of review: Mar 27, 2011
There are cheaper motels in this town but
I wasn't in the mood tonight. I have a coupon for $39 and that is their best
rate. Highway sign says $44, billboard a few miles back also said Corp Lodging
and CLC pricing.
No issue at check in, I ask for a room with good WiFi and
get a room with the router in it. Room is clean, water is hot, heater works.
Not only does this motel have free breakfast (I was gone before it started
… but they list biscuits, gravy,eggs) they also have free soup in the
evening. I did see a few people enjoying it but I wanted a full meal. (I've now
checked their website and it is listed as 'Complimentary Southern Supper')
Pictures show the details, Room for a half dozen big rigs plus lots of room for
smaller units. The place looks like an old style Howard Johnsons with the
separate building for check in and breakfast.
This was a rare time where I
turned on the TV, yes it works. At least on HBO, no issues. Sounds like a
husband - wife live right on the place so always someone there. I'll be back,
unless I'm really cheap next time.
For those that want a meal included on
both ends of the day, this may be a better deal than the $29 places.
*
Reviewer ratings for this hotel:
o 3 of 5 stars Value
o 3 of 5 stars
Rooms
o 3 of 5 stars Location
o 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
o 3 of 5
stars Service
o 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
* Date of stay: March
2011
* Recommended by this reviewer? Yes
Management response from
Marise MeloFurtado, Manager
(Management representative)
Mar 28,
2011
It is a pleasure to read the rare review from a business traveller.
Most of our reviews are from guests on vacation, however, most of our weekday
guests are here on business and I am glad to read a review of our property from
a different perspective. We are one of the few hotels in the Asheville area
that accept Corporate Lodging and our low CLC rates save our business
travellers a lot on the road as does our travel coupon. Convenient location
right off the interstate, a nearby TA truck stop to fuel, free and ample truck
parking, free and high-speed wireless internet, 2 complimentary meals and most
of all clean and comfortable rooms make our Days Inn Asheville West an
excellent option for truck drivers needing to stop for a few hours. Thank you
for taking the time to write this review and we hope you will make the Days Inn
Asheville West your hotel choice whenever you need to stop in the Asheville
area. Sincerely, Manager, Days Inn Asheville West.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No Trip Advisor - Buck Horn - TA
This place does have a lot
of 'all you can eat' options, where they just keep cooking more of what you
ordered, but I didn't get one of those.
After much debating I got the
lasagna. Italian food at a family restaurant is taking a chance and I knew it,
but the picture looked so good. It was good but way too much red sauce which I
left. And it comes with their 'all you can eat' salad bar, so I made two trips
back for that. They did have two kinds of soup but neither that I wanted. Place
was busy between the truckers and locals so the salad bar was kept fresh.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Friday - 3/25/11
Uhgggg
4:30 … AM …
that's 3:30 AM my time.
But, I don't have much of a choice, I lost
three hours the day of pickup and now am against the clock. I do take an extra
½ hour off … big deal.
Dark, yep, it's still dark at 5 AM.
Get to a scale almost right away, sign says closed but it is all lit up with
trucks crossing the scale. At the last minute I turn and cross it, it is closed
… I see others pulling in behind me. I'm thinking that will go on until
there is a space between trucks.
For another $5 I could have stayed a
few more places down the road about a half hour. I had time left again last
night, don't like stopping early but don't like getting stuck with a $70 motel
either.
Two fuel stops today, one to get there, one to top it off at
delivery. I checked last night and wrote down the exit numbers for my drop,
Pilot right at the exit, airport is 10 miles away. Customer said he would meet
me there with a ½ hour notice. I call and let him know I have an hour
plus to play with but he's there by the time I'm done with my paperwork. He
says they have five new trucks being delivered today and tomorrow. Must have
been other drivers that got their own rides, not all drivers use the shuttle.
Customer tells me I can throw my bag in the back … Wow, didn't
know I was getting a ride, he hadn't offered before.
Boeing is
building a new building in this town for their new plane, I got to see two of
them but didn't' get a picture.
I call dispatch again today, I called
them each day about a run. Yesterday I locked in on a CA run but no flight.
Looked at flights last night and by this AM they had gone up $50. Dispatch
found a direct for $210 so I'm locked in. I also did the math last night so I
know what I'm up against. I have 4 - 600 mile days and the last day I have
three hours driving, another hour plus fueling, washing, scaling and catch a
noon flight. Good news is that going this way when their clock says 4 AM it's
really 6 AM my time. Or more likely when its 2 AM their time, it's really 4 AM.
Still need to find a ride to the airport, I'm about an hour away …
Didn't realize that all (most all) the food was before security at the
airport, but I wasn't really hungry. Once I started talking to someone who sat
down beside me eating I realized that I wouldn't likely have time to eat
between planes.
I don't, I'm at the last gate on the far wing when we
land for my layover, and I'm in the back of the plane … by the time I get
to the gate, power walking all the way … they are already loading and I
don't see the other driver anywhere. They call my group about the time I stop
walking and I get on. Other driver was waiting, I missed him.
He'll
use the train to get home and it sounds like I have a ride.
I ate some
fruit bits as soon as I got on the plane, it is 2 PM and I haven't eaten or
drank anything all day. Usually it's a few nibbles by now. |
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